Saturday 8 February

Scrambling on Throng Close Buttress

Saturday started overcast but warm enough but by the afternoon it turned cold and very wet. Ady, Tony, and James (the new member) went scrambling up Throng Close Buttress (SD239981) a pleasant little scramble if a bit slippery due to weather conditions.

From the top we mistakenly thought we could see Little Blake Rigg and thought we'd give it a go. Getting across the stream which was in full spate proved tricky! We then spent 20mins searching for the start on the wrong crag realised our error and moved further North to try and find the real crag.

We quickly arrived at the real Little Blake Rigg but couldn't find the tree marking the start. I eventually came across a dead fallen tree and we confirmed this was the right spot. This was also a good scramble however the grade 2 moves were very dicey in places due to the damp conditions.

From the top we traversed down to Seathwaite Tarn, went around its NW edge in an attempt to get higher. The weather closed in so we returned on the SE side of the Tarn and down to the hut to dry out.

Mountain Biking on Walner Scar

Denise (aka DDD), Dave, & Simon pushed bikes halfway up the Walna Scar, then cut south to the valley of the River Lickle. This gave a testing descent in the upper part with bogs, boulders, and streams, but later on developed into pleasing single-track. Grassier tracks with occasional rock steps followed, circumnavigating Caw, to a long rocky descent to Seathwaite.

Denise the Downhill Demon (DDD) left Simon and Dave standing! With time to spare, the party cycled, then pushed again alongside Wallowbarrow crag, to a nice track countouring along to the forested slopes of Harter Fell. A quick fire-road descent hit the valley road, just in time for the onset of heavy rain.

Sunday 9 February

Sunday remained dry and (warmish) all day. Denise, Dave, Tony and Ady did a scramble up Harter fell. Direct access from the hut was barred as the stepping stones over the river were submerged under at least 1 foot (30cm) of water! This entailed a detour south to Wallowbarrow Gorge where a bridge enabled us to cross the river.

From here we went on one of Simon's new scrambling lines he had spotted (SD222989). The scramble was a considerable variation on the 'Brandy Crags' scramble described in the guidebook, mainly sticking to outcrops further right. This turned out to be a wonderful grade 3 on dry rock, all the difficulties could be bypassed if desired. From here we continued scrambling almost continually to the rocky summit of Harter Fell.

The clouds gradually cleared to give an idyllic afternoon. The rock was almost dry and warm! Should we have gone climbing instead?

Scrambling in the Lake District

Last Updated: 13 Oct 2005	© Slough Mountaineering Group	contact us